Long-term quality of life after radical prostatectomy in wives of men in the postoperative adjuvant androgen deprivation trial

Abstract

Purpose We examined quality of life in spouses of men in the Post-Adjuvant Androgen Deprivation trial after radical prostatectomy. Methods Men at high risk of prostate cancer recurrence were randomized to receive androgen deprivation therapy or observation. Forty-three couples completed telephone interviews every 6 months for 2 years assessing women’s mood disturbance, mental and physical health, and sexual function and bother as well as men’s symptoms and sociodemographic and marital variables. We used linear mixed modeling to explore relationships between wives’ quality of life and time, treatment group, and men’s symptoms. Results Women’s mental health functioning improved over time (p<0.05). Furthermore, women with husbands in the observation group had worse mood disturbance (p=0.01) and poorer mental health (p=0.02) than women with husbands in treatment. Men’s symptoms were associated with worse physical health in wives (p=0.02). Women also reported worse sexual function at 18 and 24 months compared with baseline (p=0.02), but ratings of sexual bother were unrelated to time, treatment, and symptoms. Conclusions These exploratory results are consistent with research demonstrating that spousal cancer-related distress decreases over time. Treatment group differences suggest that an examination of caregiving in the context of uncertainty is warranted. Also, the physical burden of caregiving may intensify when men have more symptoms. To inform interventions, future studies should clarify how treatment and symptoms influence wives’ distress by examining expectations and communication.

Gender differences in cancer-related distress in Japan: a retrospective observation study

“…Another study showed that not only female cancer patients, but also female partners of male cancer patients, perceived more psychological distress and a lower quality of life than women in healthy couples, although male partners of female cancer patients did not differ from their healthy controls [ 9 ]. For example, spouses of prostate cancer patients suffered conditions affecting their mood, mental and physical health, and sexual function [ 10 ].…”

“…There were role and gender differences regarding psychological distress and quality of life when dealing with cancer. Not only female cancer patients, but also female partners of male cancer patients, had psychological distress and a low quality of life [ 9 , 10 ]. In addition, female cancer patients seem to suffer different types of distress compared with male patients.…”

Predictors of long‐term distress in female partners of men diagnosed with prostate cancer

“…[10][11][12][13] Of the few longitudinal studies in this context that exceed 1-year follow-up, most considered general or disease-specific QoL, 9,14 and where psychological outcomes were assessed, few applied validated measures of distress. Sterba et al 15 found that partners' of men treated with radical prostatectomy and receiving postadjuvant treatment or observation had improved mental health over the 24-month study period. 15 However, this study was limited by including only 31 partners, and so an understanding of long-term partners' psychological distress is a knowledge gap.…”

“…Sterba et al 15 found that partners' of men treated with radical prostatectomy and receiving postadjuvant treatment or observation had improved mental health over the 24-month study period. 15 However, this study was limited by including only 31 partners, and so an understanding of long-term partners' psychological distress is a knowledge gap. In addition, there remains a lack of clarity about prospective and potentially modifiable predictors of distress.…”

Post-traumatic disorder symptoms and blunted diurnal cortisol production in partners of prostate cancer patients

“…In a study examining psychological functioning in PC patients and their spouses, Eton and colleagues (Eton et al, 2005) found that spouses were more likely than patients to report cancer-specific distress, including more avoidance and intrusive thoughts. Spouses report distress associated with the demands of caregiving for a cancer patient (Northouse et al, 2007a; Sterba et al, 2010), the threat of losing a loved one (Eton et al, 2005; Northouse et al, 2007b), and social isolation (Carter et al, 2010; Williamson et al, 1998). …”